Chicago Marathon Pros & Cons??

[kim3339]

I got an email this morning about the opening of registration for the Chicago Marathon in Feb.

I know that there's a 45,000 runner cap on the race so it'll be ginormous. And also that the weather hasn't been that great the past couple of years.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has run the race before, or live in Chicago and have experienced the weekend and race, and what your thoughts are on the race. Pros and cons... anything would be appreciated, course, water stops, etc.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[masc]

I ran Chicago this past October 10/10/10 with my brother and sister. It was one of the best things I have accomplished.
Sign up early, get your hotel room early and have fun training.

This past October was hot, hot, hot but there were plenty of water/gatorade stations. There were cheering fans the entire way with bands, playing, cheerleaders, and lots of fun.

It was really a very well run race. Yes, there are a TON of runners but it was TONS of fun.
If you are really thinking about it...do not hesitate recruit a friend or sister/brother to do it with you.

 

[s_atl]

I'm planning Chicago this year for my first full. DH also wants to run his first full this year. And even though he's an average 9:00-10:00 pace and I'm a 13:00 pace, he has said he wants to run the full side by side with me - for our 10th wedding anniversary which is also in Oct.

 

[verticalchaos]

Chicago is on my list of marathons I want to run. It will have to wait at least another year though, since I'll be doing the Wine and Dine half the week before. Choices, choices!!

(Actually it may have to wait until 2013 since I will be doing the NYC Marathon in 2012.)

 

[SAHDad]

I've finished it once, and took my first DNF on the course as well. If the weather is good, then it is indeed a fun race - flat, fast, and with great crowd support. If the weather is less then clement, then you are left to the tender mercies of Pinkowski, and, speaking personally, I am still not ready to trust him after the 2007 race.

YMMV, but I would be more eager to run it if it were a couple weeks later.

 

[America]

10/10/10 Chicago Marathon was my first full right after I got back from the Wine & Dine. It was the best exparience I had, and plan to do it again in 2011. I loved that the whole city was in that state of mind. Tons of people cheering you on and just running thru the neighborhoods was a blast. It is pretty much flat other than the last turn right before you finish there is a steep hill. I felt it was very well organized.

The con for me was the weather. It was HOT! Of course of all the days that week it was the hottest.

I can't wait for this year. With a few more marathons under my belt I don't feel like such a newbie now.